To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Using a broadly applicable growth-percolation model to design improved biofilters

USING A BROADLY APPLICABLE GROWTH-PERCOLATION MODEL
TO DESIGN IMPROVED BIOFILTERS
by
Arash Bina
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
December 2006
Copyright 2006 Arash Bina

Two major problems encountered with biofiltration are clogging and the large size of the reactors. Clogging is the result of biomass accumulation that fills and blocks pores in the media. clogging may limit the lifetime of a biofilter. To reach a certain efficiency, a minimum empty bed residence time and thus biofilter size is required. However, most biofilters are designed by the rule of thumb. This suggests that a standard optimal design tool is needed.; In this study a previously developed biofilter model called growth-percolation model was refined and expanded. The model was then applied to several experiments performed by different investigators to show the broad capability of the model. It was found that fitting only one of the parameters of the model, the density of microorganisms in the biofilm, allowed description of different data sets, making it possible to use the model as a design tool.; Two novel biofilter media were suggested to improve an existing configurations. One utilized graded packing media and the other one used thin parallel plates instead of porous media. To test the efficiency of graded packing media, an experiment was performed to compare a graded packing biofilter and a uniform particle size biofilter. The biofilters in this experiment were designed using the model. The performance of the biofilters showed that the graded packing biofilter was superior in both efficiency and lifetime. The results demonstrated the capability of the model for designing better biofilters.

USING A BROADLY APPLICABLE GROWTH-PERCOLATION MODEL
TO DESIGN IMPROVED BIOFILTERS
by
Arash Bina
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
December 2006
Copyright 2006 Arash Bina